Flashlight



P. C. HAAS Oct. 17, 1939.

FLASHLIGHT Filed June 30, 1957 aa @d m y ATToRlhvFu'a- Patented Oct. 17,1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The ordinary flashlight has an open-ended cylindrical metallic case witha switch button slidably mounted exteriorly thereof. A removable metalcap closes the bottom end thereof and an 5 annular member with aturned-in flange at the opposite end removably retains in position alens behind which is mounted the miniature electric lamp with itsreflector. Within the case is the battery which is electricallyconnected with the lamp through a circuit which includes the switch.'I'he flashlight case is not waterproof or gas proof; uid, eithergaseous or liquid, can seep into the case at the bottom cap or throughand around the annular lens securing member and around the edges of thelens and even around the switch button because the latter is slidablewith respect to the case and the contact member of the switch is withinthe case and connected to the switch button through a. slot in the case.Fluids thus seeplng into the case, cause the reflector to tarnish andbecome dull, corrode the case interiorly, causing the parts of theflashlight to adhere to each other, and create short circuits whichprevent operation of the flashlight and shorten the g5 life of or ruinthe battery, nor will the ordinary flashlight function submerged inwater or other liquids.

A flashlight is often subjected to rough handling and use; the case issometimes dented, the

lens shattered or switch member broken, and the switch member will oftenfail from wear alone. 'I'he ordinary flashlight must generally bediscarded when such breakage takes place, especially, if, for example,the switch member breaks since the latter is usually slidably riveted oreyeletted to the case and the average person is not equipped to make therepairs necessary to remove the damaged switch memberand to secure thereplacement switch member in place.

40 A flashlight, however, constructed according to thespecificationsmore particularly hereinafter set forth will avoid all the difficultiesand shortcomings of the ordinary flashlight.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to provide aflashlight which is impervious to fluids.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flashlight which willfunction even when submerged in liquids by reason of the fluid-tightcase and contact member.

A unique switch member consisting of a bellows and a contact memberavoids the use of the usual spring or friction switch with theirattendant wear and liability to breakage. For operating the switch thebottom cap of the flashlight is thread- (Cl. 24W-10.66)

ed internally and the case is threaded externally to provide cooperatingmeans upon the cap and case to produce rectilineal movement of the capwith respect to the case upon rotation of the cap and this rectilinealmovement of the cap is 6 used to operate the bellows causing the contactmember associated with the bellows to come into or to break contact withthe battery to close the electrical circuit.

An additional advantage of this invention is l0 to provide a flashlightwhich may be readily disassembled so that another part or parts may bereadily substituted for defective or broken parts. The flashlightcomprehended herein may be used in places where the ordinary flashlightcannotll be used due to the possibility in the use of an ordinaryflashlight, that a spark from the switch in lighting or hot filament ifthe lens and lamp are shattered may cause inflammable gases or liquidsto ignite. 20

Other objects of this invention are to provide a flashlight having acase of a moulded substance which is substantially unbreakable,non-conducting, non-corroding; which is unaffected by water, gasoline,solvents, acids or alkalles, and one which 25 is simple in constructionand operation, and may be manufactured economically.

Numerous other objects of this invention will be readily apparent froman examination of the following specification taken in conjunction with80 the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal plan View showing by broken lines the outlineof the lens gasket, the lamp assembly, battery compartment, and switchmechanism as it is when the circuit is open; 35

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the switch mechanism asit is when the .,lrcuit is closed;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line3 3 of Fig. 2; 40

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a detailof the lamp assembly;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the bellows-like switchmechanism including in broken line a fragmentary portion of an electriccell or battery.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, there is a case I0, threadedat one end II with an enlarged head I2 at the opposite end thereof. Theenlarged head I2 is threaded externally at I3, the threads on theenlarged head I2 cooperating with the internal threads on the annularring I4. An inwardly-extending flange I5 is integrally formed at one endof the angular ring I4 and serves to grip between the flange I5 and theend I8 of the case I8 a U-shaped annular gasket I1, which encircles thecircumferential edges of the lens I8, to provide a uld-tight closingmeans for the case I8 at the end thereof which has the enlarged head I2.

Within and adjacent the enlarged head I2.is a lamp assembly whichincludes a metal disc I9, with a turned-up flange 28 which may beintegrally formed with the disc. Disc I 9 has a socket -2| in electricalcontact therewith for threadedly receiving a miniature lamp 22. Securedby suitable means, such, for example, as the screws 23, to the bottom ofthe disc I9, (that is, on the side of the disc opposite the lamp socket2l), is a disc 24 of non-conducting material. A metal contact member 25passes through a centrallyspaced aperture in the disc 24 and is suitablysecured therein by means of threads as shown or some other suitablefastening means. 'I'his contact member 25 serves as the contact memberfor the positive post 28 of the electric cells or batteries 21, whichare intended to be inserted within the case and are shown by brokenlines. This same metal contact member 25 serves as one of the contactmembers for the lamp 22, the center contact of which, when the lamp isin the socket, projects through an aperture 28 in disc I9 and contactsagainst the contact member 25, which is electrically insulated from themetaldisc I9 by reason of the aperture 28 and the non-conducting disc24.

A substantially parabolic reflector 29 is also within the enlarged headI2 and has the edges 38 thereof contacting against the inner side of thelens I8. An aperture`3I is provided in this reflector through which thelamp 22 projects. For normally urging and retaining said reector 29 incontact at the edges 38 with the lens I8, and for normally retaining thelamp assembly in position and for urging the contact member 25 intocontact with the positive post of the electric cell or battery 21, thereis provided a spiral expansible coil spring 32, which at one end thereofrests upon the metal disc I9 and at the other end this spring engagesthe reflector. A metal spring contact member 33 is secured to the caseI8 within the enlarged head I2 by means of a screw or other similarsuitable fastening means 34. There is thereby provided an electricalconducting circuit from the threaded portion lamp 22, through the socket2|, the metal disc I9, the expansible coil spring 32, the metalreflector 29, and the metal spring contact member 33, to the screw orother fastening means 34.

Extending from the screw 34 is an electrical conductor 35, which passesthrough the wall of the case I8. It may be well to point out here thatthis invention comprehends the use of a mouldable substance, including acanvas base, which is unbreakable, non-conducting, non-corrosive, and isunaffected by water, gasoline, solvents or alkalies, but which productper se. does not form part of this invention. Since the case I8 isintended to be of non-conducting material, the electrical conductor 35Will thus be insulated from the electric cells or batteries 21. Theconductor 35 terminates near the end of the casing opposite the enlargedhead. The terminal of the electrical conductor 35 is electricallyconnected to an annular ring 36, with which annular ring the switchmechanism, hereinafter described, is in electrical contact.

The switch mechanism referred to above consists of a metal disc 31 withan externally threaded flange 38, which engages with cooperating threadson the interior of the casing I8. Secured to the metal disc 31 is aseries of metal convolutions 38, which serve as a bellows in conjunctionwith the flanged metal cap 39. Secured to the metal cap 39, within thebellows, is a tube 48, through which a bolt 4I is passed with its headresting upon one end of the tube 48 and its end engaged in the cap 3 9.The tube 48 is of such length that when the bellows 38 is compressed,the tube 48, which passes through an aperture in the `disc: 31, throughwhich it is freely movable, will press upon the bottom of the electriccells or batteries 21, so as to close a circuit through the miniaturelamp, as shown in Fig. 2, as follows: 'I'he current passes through themetallic casing of the electric cells or batteries 21, through thepositive post 26, the contact member 25, the contact point of theminiature lamp 22, through the filament of the lamp, through thethreaded portion thereof, and then through the socket 2| to the screw34, as described above, by way of theI conductor 35, the annular ring38, to the metal disc 31, and the tube '48 and screw 4I, which are inelectrical contact therewith, thus completing the circuit to themetallic casing of the batteries. Within the depression of the flangedcap 39 and rigidly secured thereto and partially projecting therefrom isa hexagonally shaped tube 42, the purpose of which will be more fullyhereinafter explained. The bellows is so constructed and arranged as tobe fluid-tight and the entire switch mechanism thus renders the case I8fluid-tight at the end opposite the enlarged head I2. The bellows isintended to be normally expanded when the circuit is open but iscompressible to close the circuit, returning again to its expanded statewhen the pressure of the post 44 is released from the end of thebellows.

For closing the case I8 at the threaded end II, there is provided aninternally threaded cap 43, the threads of which cooperate with theexternal threads on the case I8 at II. In addition to covering theswitch mechanism hereinbefore described and closing the end of the caseI8, the cap 43 is the means for operating the switch, being used forcompressing the bellows so as to close the circuit as hereinbeforedescribed. Within the cap 43 is a post-like member 44, rigidly securedto the cap by suitable means, such as, for example, the bolt 45 and thenut 46. A bore 41 passes diametrically through the upper end of the post44 and contains therein an expansible coil spring 48,- which pressesupon two spherical bodies 49, which project partially from the aperturedametrically opposite each other with respect to the post, but whoseoutward movement is limited by the fact that the external diameters ofthe bore 41 are of less diameter than that of the spherical bodies 49.

The purpose of the hexagonal tube 48, which is associated with thebellows and the springurged spherical bodies 49, is as follows: Inturning the cap 43, with respect to the case I8, the spherical bodies 49are caused to alternately press against' the flat internal surfaces ofthe hexagonal tube and to press into the apexes of the angles of thehexagon, thus causing a certain stop in the rotary motion of the cap andrequirlng slightly additional pressure in order to rotate the cap 43with respect to the case i8, cath time that the spherical bodies 48 cometo A remains stationary and rotation in rest in a pair of apexes of theangles of the hexagon. There is thus provided means for limiting thefree rotation of the cap 43 with respect to the case I 0. 'I'his isadvantageous since it is possible to so adjust the cap 43 that thecircuit is open and yet have the cap so adjusted that by a mereone-sixth turn the circuit may be closed where it will remain until itis desired to open the circuit again. This precludes accidental lightingof the4 flashlight when not in use and consequent burning out of thebattery and prevents the iiashlight from going out when in use.

A flashlight constructed as shown and described herein may be focused byrotating the' annular ring I4 in one direction so as to cause the lensI8, with its gasket Il, to move away from contact with the end 'I6 ofthe case I0, and thereupon the expansible coil spring 32 causes theretlector 29 to continue at its edges I0 in contact with the lens I8,while the lamp assembly the opposite directibn will return theflashlight to its previous focus. i

While, of course, as previously stated, this device will preferably bemade of a moulded canvas base material, it is within the scope of thisinvention to provide a ashlight oi any other suitable material, and thecase may be made of hard rubber or any other similar material, and theannular ring I4 and the cap 4I may be made of the same material as thecase or of a different material. 'I'he lens will be preferably made ofsocalled shatter-proof glass, that is. a number of layers of glasssecured together by means of a transparent cellulose layer or somewhatsimilar material to provide the additional advantages previously pointedout.

While the structure of the flashlight has been shown in the drawing andthe same specifically described, it will be understeed that thisinvention is not confined to the speciiic details shown and described asnumerous other changes and modifications and the full use of equivalentsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of theappended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a flashlight, a casing, a bellows connected to said casing toforma fluid-tight seal therefor, the protruding end wall of the bellowsbeing movable in responseto the exing of the side wall thereof, acontact element carried by said end wall, a xed contact elementelectrically connecting said bellows to said flashlight within thesealed casing and means for closing and opening a circuit through saidcontact elements in response to alternative movements of the bellows,the circuit being closed and opened within the sealed casing.

2. A ilashlight having a casing( a lens mounted at one end thereof, areilector and cooperating lamp assembly associated with said lens, meansfor moving said lamp assembly for focusing said iiashlight, a bellowsembodying a movable end wall, a contact element carried thereby, meansfor connecting said bellows to the other end of said casing to form afluid-tight seal therefor, a fixed contact element electricallyconnecting said bellows to the lamp assembly within the casing, andmeans exterior of said casing for closing and opening a circuit throughsaid contacts in response to the compression and expansion of saidbellows.

3. A flashlight having a casing, a lens at one end thereof, a reflectorand cooperating lamp assembly associated with said lens, means formoving said lamp assembly for varying the focus of said flashlight, abellows embodying a movable end wall, a contact element carried by saidwall. means for connecting said bellows to the other end of said casingto form a duid-tight seal therefor, a iixed contact element electricallyconnecting said bellows to the lamp assembly within the casing, aclosure connected externally of said casing for relative movement inreverse directions in engagement with said bellows, for effecting theclosing and opening of a circuit through said contacts, by a responsivemovement of said bellows and means for controlling the movement of saidclosure.

4. A flashlight having an open-ended case. a lens. reilector and lampassembly at one end, means associated with said lens and one end of saidcase to render the latter fluid-tight, circuit closing means including acompressible and selfexpanding chambered element for sealing the otherend of the case fluid-tight, a xed contact member 4electricallyconnecting the lamp assembly to said element within the case and acontact member carried by a movable portion of said element forprojecting therefrom into the sealed case in response to the compressionof said element, to close the circuit tacts and said lamp assembly.

PAUL C'. HAAS.

through said two conso

